Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-26
CANADIAN OPINION
ON THE EFFECT or EDMUNDS RE-
TALlAToRY MEASURE.
Frye's Statements Characterized as False
Viewed by Our Northern Neishbors-A
Measure That Cuts Both Ways-yalue
OF the Fisheries-The London Press.

Measure That Cuts Both Ways-yaIue
OF the Fisheries-The London Press.
OTTAWA, Ont, Jan. 26--1he action OF the
Unitei States senate in passing the fishr-
ries retaliation BILL has caused much
CONSERVATION in ministerial circles here
Coming at a time when the country is
plunged into the excitement of a general
election, it could not have taken the govern
ment at greater disadvantage. Considering
the attitude, however which the United
States government has assumed regarding
the fishery question this action was
notaltogether unexpected, although nothing
had been done to meet it. If the
bill should go into force it would
effectually succeed il annihilating all COM
mercial intercourse between the two coun-
tries. As the total exports from the United
States TO Canada exceed those from Canada
to the United States by about Sl5, 000, 900 an
nually, the United States would in one sense
sustain the greater direct loss. Another eff
feet of the bill would be to throw Canada
more On her own resources and cause her to
cultivate a more extensive shipping trade
with England This view OF the matter is
generally accepted here, and the conclusion
is that the United States would have every
thing to lose and nothing to gain by such
| legislation.
Several cabinet ministers were seen by a
correspondent Tuesday regarding the matter,
| but all were very reticent in expressing an
opinion. Thomas White, minister of the in
| terror, thought tho United States govern
nlent was assuming this position for the pur-
pose of strengthening its negotiations for a
treaty. " hen the question came up before
| the Dominion government there could be no
doubt that it would be treated amcably, as
the government was anxious to establish free
and uninterrupted trade relations with the
United States. Mr. Foster, minister of fish
cries, gave his opinion as follows: "If it ap-
pears to the senate best that such a course
should b, adopted in the interest of the
United States, it has a perfect right to act
as it has done. Canada has simply stood on
| her rights as defined in the treaty of
ISIS, and as secured by imperial and colonial
legislation founded upon that treaty. She
| has enforced these rights, in accordance with
the spirit of the treaty, without undue an-
noyance, and in doing SO has protected the
| important interests of her people. 1t re
| mains to be seen whether such legislation
will be put into effect by the United States
The measure will cut both ways, and moth
| ing but actual experiment will show upon
| whom the greatest measure of burden will
| fall" The minister of customs held that the
| enforcement of such a measure would prac-
tically stop transit trade between Canada and
the United States. The injury to the
United States, however, would be tentold
that Of Canada, and be did not think ii
likely the president would put it in force.
The charges made against the Canadian au-
thorities of obstruction, attended by indigni
ties, annoy ances etc, were absolutely false.
He dii not apprehend that the course pur.
sued by the United States senate woull re
suit in nything more than the unpleasant
ness which must naturally arise from suct
evidences OF hostile feeling on the par
Of United States r. ople The principal rail
road interests we're chiefly American in
terestS. The United States authorities NIGH
prevent Canal ian vessels from having com
muucation with their ports, but the result
would be that these vessels would seek othei
markets, and the Unltei States commercial
interests would consequently largely suffer
. Although no authentic account Of the fish
cries Of the Dominion for the year just closed
can yet h, obtained it is learned from the
department of marine and fisheries that IL
point OF value they will show an increase O
fully - per cent as compared with 1885
which would in round numbers place the to
tai value at S30, 100000. There were ais,
employed 2S, AZ boats, valued at $50, PSI. Il
addition to this, 81 30 go was invested il
nets, etc, and S20jS, 4G2 in the lobster fish
cry, which shows $685., $50 as employed il
carrying on the tiSherie, of the Dominion.